"The Death with Dignity Act offered the terminally-ill the right to make that decision for themselves, but regrettably, we fell short," the Dignity 2012 campaign said in a statement sent this morning.

Vote tallies from across the state today are still incomplete but they show the measure failing 51 to 49 percent.

Holliston has still not reported its results and Framingham has not tabulated all votes. Several other towns have also not reported numbers.

The statement continued, "Our grassroots campaign was fueled by thousands of people from across this state, but outspent five to one by groups opposed to individual choice."

Opponents of the question argued the question was flawed and succeeded in reversing public opinion on what was a few months ago a question that looked likely to pass.

Roman Catholic groups in Boston and around the country backed the opposition with about $2 million in campaign funds.

"We believe the voters came to see this as a flawed approach to end of life care, lacking in the most basic safeguards," said Rosanne Bacon Meade, chairwoman of the Committee Against Physician Assisted Suicide.

"A broad coalition of medical professionals religious leaders elected officials and voters from across the political spectrum played a role in question two's defeat," she said.

The Massachusetts Medical Society was also a staunch opponent of the question and Tuesday night issued a statement urging physicians not to suggest marijuana as a treatment to their patients.